Google unveils Nexus phones with 'Marshmallow' flavor

Michael Liedtke, Associated Press

September 29, 2015Updated: September 29, 2015 10:26pm

Photo: Tony Avelar, FRE

Image 1of/14

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 14

Dave Burke, Vice President of engineering at Google, speaks about the new Google Android 6.0 Marshmallow software during a Google event on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, in San Francisco Google is countering the release of Appleâs latest iPhones with two devices running on "Marshmallow," a new version of Android software designed to steer and document even more of its usersâ lives. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) less

Dave Burke, Vice President of engineering at Google, speaks about the new Google Android 6.0 Marshmallow software during a Google event on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, in San Francisco Google is countering the ... more

Photo: Tony Avelar, FRE

Image 2 of 14

Los Angeles Dodgers' Andre Ethier (16) hits a double against the San Francisco Giants in the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Andre Ethier (16) hits a double against the San Francisco Giants in the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Photo: Tony Avelar, FRE

Image 3 of 14

Dave Burke, vice president of engineering at Google, speaks about the new Google Nexus 6P during an event on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, in San Francisco. Google is countering the release of Appleâs latest iPhones with two devices running on "Marshmallow," a new version of Android software designed to steer and document even more of its usersâ lives. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) less

Dave Burke, vice president of engineering at Google, speaks about the new Google Nexus 6P during an event on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, in San Francisco. Google is countering the release of Appleâs latest ... more

Photo: Tony Avelar, FRE

Image 4 of 14

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Jake Peavy (22) works against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Jake Peavy (22) works against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Photo: Tony Avelar, FRE

Image 5 of 14

Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Android, Chrome and Apps, speaks about the new Google Nexus phones during an event on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, in San Francisco. Google is countering the release of Appleâs latest iPhones with two devices running on "Marshmallow," a new version of Android software designed to steer and document even more of its usersâ lives. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) less

Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Android, Chrome and Apps, speaks about the new Google Nexus phones during an event on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, in San Francisco. Google is countering the release of ... more

Photo: Tony Avelar, FRE

Image 6 of 14

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Jake Peavy (22) works against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Jake Peavy (22) works against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Photo: Tony Avelar, FRE

Image 7 of 14

Los Angeles Dodgers' Andre Ethier hits a grounder to score a run against the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, in San Francisco. Andre Ethier was out at first base. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) less

Los Angeles Dodgers' Andre Ethier hits a grounder to score a run against the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, in San Francisco. Andre Ethier was out at first ... more

Photo: Tony Avelar, FRE

Image 8 of 14

Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Android, Chrome and Apps, speaks about the new Google Nexus phones during an event on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, in San Francisco. Google is countering the release of Appleâs latest iPhones with two devices running on "Marshmallow," a new version of Android software designed to steer and document even more of its usersâ lives. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) less

Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Android, Chrome and Apps, speaks about the new Google Nexus phones during an event on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, in San Francisco. Google is countering the release of ... more

Photo: Tony Avelar, FRE

Image 9 of 14

San Francisco Giants pitcher Jake Peavy throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Jake Peavy throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Photo: Tony Avelar, FRE

Image 10 of 14

Dave Burke, vice president of engineering at Google, holds the new Google Nexus 6P during an event on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, in San Francisco. Google is countering the release of Appleâs latest iPhones with two devices running on "Marshmallow," a new version of Android software designed to steer and document even more of its usersâ lives. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) less

Dave Burke, vice president of engineering at Google, holds the new Google Nexus 6P during an event on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, in San Francisco. Google is countering the release of Appleâs latest iPhones ... more

Photo: Tony Avelar, FRE

Image 11 of 14

ADDS THAT PICHAI IS NEWLY NAMED GOOGLE CEO - Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Android, Chrome and Apps, and newly named Google CEO, speaks about the new Google Nexus phones during an event on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, in San Francisco. Google is countering the release of Appleâs latest iPhones with two devices running on "Marshmallow," a new version of Android software designed to steer and document even more of its usersâ lives. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) less

ADDS THAT PICHAI IS NEWLY NAMED GOOGLE CEO - Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Android, Chrome and Apps, and newly named Google CEO, speaks about the new Google Nexus phones during an event on Tuesday, ... more

Photo: Tony Avelar, FRE

Image 12 of 14

ADDS THAT PICHAI IS NEWLY NAMED GOOGLE CEO - Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Android, Chrome and Apps, and newly named Google CEO, speaks about the new Google Nexus phones during an event on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, in San Francisco. Google is countering the release of Appleâs latest iPhones with two devices running on "Marshmallow," a new version of Android software designed to steer and document even more of its usersâ lives. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) less

ADDS THAT PICHAI IS NEWLY NAMED GOOGLE CEO - Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Android, Chrome and Apps, and newly named Google CEO, speaks about the new Google Nexus phones during an event on Tuesday, ... more

Photo: Tony Avelar, FRE

Image 13 of 14

ADDS THAT PICHAI IS NEWLY NAMED GOOGLE CEO - Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Android, Chrome and Apps, and newly named Google CEO, speaks about the new Google Nexus phones during an event on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, in San Francisco. Google is countering the release of Appleâs latest iPhones with two devices running on "Marshmallow," a new version of Android software designed to steer and document even more of its usersâ lives. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) less

ADDS THAT PICHAI IS NEWLY NAMED GOOGLE CEO - Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Android, Chrome and Apps, and newly named Google CEO, speaks about the new Google Nexus phones during an event on Tuesday, ... more

Photo: Tony Avelar, FRE

Image 14 of 14

ADDS THAT PICHAI IS NEWLY NAMED GOOGLE CEO - Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Android, Chrome and Apps, and newly named Google CEO, speaks about the new Google Nexus phones during an event on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, in San Francisco. Google is countering the release of Appleâs latest iPhones with two devices running on "Marshmallow," a new version of Android software designed to steer and document even more of its usersâ lives. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) less

ADDS THAT PICHAI IS NEWLY NAMED GOOGLE CEO - Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Android, Chrome and Apps, and newly named Google CEO, speaks about the new Google Nexus phones during an event on Tuesday, ... more

Photo: Tony Avelar, FRE

Google unveils Nexus phones with 'Marshmallow' flavor

1 / 14

Back to Gallery

SAN FRANCISCO - Google is countering the release of Apple's latest iPhones with two devices running on a new version of Android software designed to steer and document even more of its users' lives.

The Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X unveiled Tuesday are the first smartphones sold with an Android upgrade called "Marshmallow." It features changes that will give expanded powers to Android's personal assistant, Google Now, so it can explore the information that people call up in the mobile applications.

Previously, Google Now learned about its users' interests and daily habits by analyzing search requests and scanning information contained in emails.

The Marshmallow version of Android enables users to summon Google Now to scan whatever content might be on a mobile device's screen so it can present pertinent information about the topic of a text, a song, a video clip or an article.

Translator

To read this article in one of Houston's most-spoken languages, click on the button below.

The new Android feature, called "Now on Tap," will be activated by holding down the device's home button or speaking, "OK Google," into the microphone. That action will prompt Now on Tap to scan the screen in an attempt to figure out how to be the most helpful. Or, if speaking, users can just say what they are seeking, such as "Who sings this?"

"In a multiscreen world, it is even more important for Google to do the hard work so the experience is simple and delightful for the users," Google CEO Sundar Pichai said.

Apple's new operating system also has programmed the iPhone's Siri assistant to be more intuitive so it can anticipate what the user might want or need before being explicitly asked.

Google began taking pre-orders for the Nexus phones in the U.S., United Kingdom, Ireland and Japan on Tuesday with prices for the 6P starting at $499 and $379 for the 5X with no commitment to a wireless contract required. They are expected to start shipping by mid-October.

The Nexus phones are undercutting Apple, which sells the iPhone 6s for $649 and the 6S Plus for $749 without a subsidy from a wireless carrier.

Google uses its Nexus line of phones to showcase how the company would like Android to be set up.